India has become the world's most populous country, overtaking China, shows data released by the United Nations today. According to UN estimates, India's population is 142.86 crore against China's 142.57 crore.

This is the first time that India has topped the UN list of most populous countries since it started collecting population data in 1950.

China is facing a looming demographic decline as birth rates plunge and its workforce ages. Several regions have also announced plans to boost birth rates -- but official efforts have so far failed to reverse the decline.